CS

Plant Science Overview

Key Concepts in Plant Science

Prayer and Purpose

  • Almighty God: Acknowledgement of the grandeur of creation.
  • Stewardship: Importance of caring for creation.

Schedule and Major Topics

  • Mar 31: Rock Cycle/Soil Presentations
  • Apr 1: Non-vascular/vascular plants; biotic/abiotic factors
  • Apr 2: Reproduction - life cycle, seed dispersal, parts of a plant
  • Apr 3: Angiosperms and Gymnosperms/Pollination
  • Apr 4: Plant and animal cells
  • Apr 7: Quiz on plant structures
  • Apr 8: Photosynthesis and respiration
  • Apr 9-10: Virtual flower dissection
  • Apr 15: Test on Plants
  • April 18-27: Spring Break

Understanding Plant Structures and Functions

Major Parts of a Plant

  • Seed: Begins plant life cycle.
  • Root: Anchors plant and absorbs nutrients and water.
  • Stem: Transports nutrients and supports the plant.
  • Leaf: Site of photosynthesis; has stomata for gas exchange.
  • Flower: Reproductive structure; contains both male and female parts.

Plant Cell Structures

  1. Cell Wall: Provides support (unique to plant cells).
  2. Chloroplasts: Site of photosynthesis, contains chlorophyll.
  3. Vacuole: Stores nutrients and waste products, larger in plant cells.

Plant Life Processes

Photosynthesis

  • Reaction: ext{6 CO}2 + ext{6 H}2 ext{O} + ext{light energy}
    ightarrow ext{C}6 ext{H}{12} ext{O}6 + ext{6 O}2
  • Importance: Converts light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose.

Cellular Respiration

  • Reaction: ext{C}6 ext{H}{12} ext{O}6 + ext{6 O}2
    ightarrow ext{6 CO}2 + ext{6 H}2 ext{O} + ext{energy}
  • Process: Breaks down glucose to release energy for cellular activities.

Types of Plants

Vascular vs. Non-vascular

  • Vascular Plants: Have specialized tissues (xylem and phloem) for nutrient transport. Examples: ferns, flowering plants.
    • Xylem: Transport water and minerals.
    • Phloem: Transports sugars from leaves.
  • Non-vascular Plants: Lack specialized transport tissues, remain small. Examples: mosses and liverworts.

Angiosperms vs. Gymnosperms

  • Angiosperms: Flowering plants that produce seeds enclosed in fruit; divided into monocots and dicots.
  • Gymnosperms: Cone-bearing plants; seeds are exposed.

Plant Reproduction

  1. Pollination: Transfer of pollen from the stamen to the pistil.
    • Self-pollination: Occurs within the same flower.
    • Cross-pollination: Occurs between different flowers.
  2. Seed Dispersal: Mechanisms include wind, water, and animals. Seeds can be fleshy or dry.
  3. Asexual Reproduction: Methods like cuttings, tubers, runners, and bulbs create clones of the parent plant.

Biotic and Abiotic Factors

Biotic Factors

  • Living components: bacteria, archaea, fungi, animals, plants, and protists.

Abiotic Factors

  • Non-living components: air, water, minerals, temperature, light, and soil pH.

Study Tips

  • Diagrams: Use diagrams of plant structures to visualize functions and processes.
  • Videos: Incorporate visual learning through educational videos and virtual dissections.
  • Activities: Engage in hands-on activities, such as plant dissections, to reinforce learning.
  • Quizzes and Practice: Regular quizzes to assess understanding and improve retention.